Preventing Lead Poisoning in Children and Young Adults Living in San Diego

Category

Press Release

Publish Date

12/9/2015

Author

Paul Cochrane

Title

Preventing Lead Poisoning in Children and Young Adults Living in San Diego

Introduction

LA Testing provides analytical services and sampling supplies to identify lead and other toxic heavy metals to protect children from exposure risks.

Garden Grove, CA, December 9th, 2015

Earlier this fall, San Diego County published information about lead poisoning in children and young adults in the area. Lead poisoning is an ongoing problem in the county and according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch, more than 1,000 children and young adults under the age of 21 had elevated blood lead levels in the county as recently as 2012.

The San Diego County News Center reports, “Most children who have lead poisoning do not act or look sick, and the exposure frequently goes unrecognized. If they have any symptoms, they may be easily confused with common childhood complaints such as stomachaches, crankiness, headaches or loss of appetite, according to CDPH. Even low levels of lead in blood have been shown to affect IQ, the ability to pay attention and academic achievement.”

The only way to prevent lead poisoning in children is to prevent exposure. A major source of exposure comes from lead-based paints that were used up until the late 1970s. Drinking water is another potential source as lead was sometimes used in the past in household plumbing materials and even in water service lines. Lead may also be present in contaminated soils; imported ceramic pottery, toy jewelry, foods and candies; and some folk medicines.

“Fortunately, identifying lead exposure risks in the home, school or work environment can be accomplished through proven testing methods,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Garden Grove facility. “To help San Diego parents protect their children from lead-based paints and other sources of toxic heavy metal, LA Testing has several laboratories in the Los Angeles area and a facility in San Diego that operates under the EMSL Analytical network. We even offer an easy-to-use Lead in Paint & Dust Test Kit that can be obtained at www.EMSLTestKits.com.”

To learn more about lead testing or other indoor air quality, environmental, occupational, health and safety issues, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794. To contact the San Diego laboratory directly, please call (858) 499-1303.

About LA Testing

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other substances. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Garden Grove, San Leandro and San Diego.